Marquis earns third victory of the year

September 10, 2001
4:25 PM EDT (2025 GMT)

THOMPSON, Conn. -- Defending Featherlite Modified Series, NASCAR Touring Champion Jerry Marquis of Broad Brook, Conn. drove to his third series victory of the 2001 season in the Sunoco Thompson 300 at Thompson International Speedway.

Marquis, driving the Angelo Russo Land Surveyors/BRE Racing Chevrolet, took the lead from Ted Christopher on lap 256 of the 300-lap race and then held off Reggie Ruggiero for his 11th career series victory.

After starting the race fourth Marquis remained in the Top-5 for the first half of the race and actually led the 100th lap. He was running third behind Christopher and the Les Care Kitchens Pontiac of Ruggiero when a caution period occurred on lap 234. The final pit stop for Marquis was key to his victory.

"On our last pit stop we put on four new tires." said Marquis. "The crew did a great job on the stop after that, the car was just awesome."

Marquis was in third on the lap 241 restart behind Rick Fuller and Christopher. Fuller led only a half lap before Christopher sailed by. Fuller, a victim of a faulty throttle linkage brought out a yellow on lap 242 with a spin into the infield. Marquis lined up behind Christopher for the restart on lap 245. Eleven laps later he slipped underneath Christopher for the win.

Christopher wound up finishing third in the ATC Dodge. Last week's winner, Eddie Flemke, was fourth in the Hill Enterprises/Stop and Shop Pontiac. Current series point leader Mike Stefanik rounded out the Top-5 in the Eggland's Best Chevrolet. Tony Hirschman set fast time in qualifying to earn the Bud Pole Award. For the second consecutive week Christopher led the most laps to win the Gatorade Front Runner Award.

Seven different drivers swapped the lead a total of 12 times during the race.

The next event for the Featherlite Modified Series is the New Hampshire 100 at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sept. 15, 2001.